Part 2 (1/2)
”Not American!”
”Why not?”
”Because it is too extraordinary, too much like a Gridley Quayle coincidence. I am an American!”
”Well, so are a good many other people.”
”You miss the point. We are not only fellow serfs--we are fellow exiles. You can't round the thing off by telling me you were born in Hayling, Ma.s.sachusetts, I suppose?”
”I was born in New York.”
”Surely not! I didn't know anybody was.”
”Why Hayling, Ma.s.sachusetts?”
”That was where I was born.”
”I'm afraid I never heard of it.”
”Strange. I know your home town quite well. But I have not yet made my birthplace famous; in fact, I doubt whether I ever shall.
I am beginning to realize that I am one of the failures.”
”How old are you?”
”Twenty-six.”
”You are only twenty-six and you call yourself a failure? I think that is a shameful thing to say.”
”What would you call a man of twenty-six whose only means of making a living was the writing of Gridley Quayle stories--an empire builder?”
”How do you know it's your only means of making a living? Why don't you try something new?”
”Such as?”
”How should I know? Anything that comes along. Good gracious, Mr.
Marson; here you are in the biggest city in the world, with chances for adventure simply shrieking to you on every side.”
”I must be deaf. The only thing I have heard shrieking to me on every side has been Mrs. Bell--for the week's rent.”
”Read the papers. Read the advertis.e.m.e.nt columns. I'm sure you will find something sooner or later. Don't get into a groove. Be an adventurer. s.n.a.t.c.h at the next chance, whatever it is.”
Ashe nodded.
”Continue,” he said. ”Proceed. You are stimulating me.”
”But why should you want a girl like me to stimulate you? Surely London is enough to do it without my help? You can always find something new, surely? Listen, Mr. Marson. I was thrown on my own resources about five years ago--never mind how. Since then I have worked in a shop, done typewriting, been on the stage, had a position as governess, been a lady's maid--”
”A what! A lady's maid?”
”Why not? It was all experience; and I can a.s.sure you I would much rather be a lady's maid than a governess.”